Step-ladder.



No. 722,409. PATBNTED' MAR. 10, 1903.

A. E; PASKELL.

STEP LADDER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 3, 1902.

H0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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-PATENTED MAR. 10, 1903.

A. E. PASKELL. STEP LADDER. APPLIOATION IIL'BD SEPT. 3, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 N0 MODEL.

adv 56 01 ilk/15%: 5/?611? ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT EDWARD PASKELL, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGN OR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN S. HAMILTON, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

STEP-LADDER.

SP CIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 722,409, dated March 10, 1903. Application filed September 3, 1902. Serial No. 121,932. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALBERT EDWARD PAS- KELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Step- Ladders, of which the following is a full and complete specification, such as will enable those skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved step-ladder with a longitudinal adjustable back member, whereby it may be used on stairways or other inclined or irregular surfaces or supports; and with this and other objects in view the invention consists in a step-ladder constructed as hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompa nying drawings form a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved step-ladder and showing the method of its operation; Fig. 2, a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, an inside view of one of the side members of the back part of the step-ladder, and Fig. 4 a section on the lines at 4 of Figs. 2 and 3.

In the practice of my invention I provide a step-ladder a, the back member of which is hinged at b in the usual manner. The back member consists of two parts a and d, one of which is adjustable in the other, the part 0 being hinged at b. The part 0 consists of two side members 0 connected by cross-bars 3 and diagonally-arranged bars 0 so as to form a strong and substantial frame; but the side members a may be connected in any desired manner. The side members a of the part c are preferably composed of an outer plate 0 and front and back plates 0 which are rigidly secured together by means of screws or other devices, as shown at 0 together with plates or bars 0 which are rigidly secured to the side plates 0 by means of screws or other devices a and which constitute the adjacent sides of said side members 0 and by means of this construction the adjacent sides of said side members a are provided with a central longitudinal slot or opening 0 which communicates with an interior longitudinal space a, much larger in crosssection than the slot or opening 0 The part at of the back portion of the stepladder is also composed of two side members d rigidly'connected by cross bars or rods (1 and diagonally-arranged bars or rods 61 but the members (1 may be rigidly connected in any desired manner. The members (1 consist of longitudinal bars d adapted to slide in the longitudinal slots or openings 0 of the members and the bars d are provided on their inner faces with ratchet-teeth d, and secured to the sides thereof are supplemental bars 01 which in connection with the inner parts of the bars (1 fill the longitudinal space a in the members 0 of the part c of the back portion of the step-ladder. I

Secured to the inner faces of the plates or bars 0 of the members 0 of the parts a of the back of the step-ladder are springs e, having inwardly-directed shoulders e and outwardly directed arms 6 which pass through openings e in the plates 0 and are preferably provided with book-shaped finger-pieces e As thus constructed it will be seen that the part at is free to slide in the part c of the back portion of the step-ladder, and the part 61 may be drawn out to any desired extent, the springs e yielding for this purpose, and said part (1 will be locked at any desired point by said springs, and in order to collapse the part (1 or force it farther into the parts 0 the arms e of said springs mustbe drawn outwardly. By means of this construction it will be seen that the separate parts of the back portion of the stepladder may be adjusted or telescoped one within another, and said parts may be held firmly in any desired position, and the length of the back portion of the ladder may thus be regulated, so that the ladder may be used on a pair of stairs, as shown in Fig. l, or on any inclined surface or support.

My improved ladder is particularly adapted for used on stairways in papering or painting halls or doing other work in hallways or may be used in many other positions and for many other purposes.

My invention is not limited to the particular construction of the side members of the parts 0 and d of the back portion of the ladder as herein described, and the members 0 0E the part 0 may be formed of one piece, as may also the members d of the part (1, and other changes in and modifications of the construc-v tion herein described may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing its advantages.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A step-ladder the back portion of which is composed of telescopic parts, the sides of the upper part being provided with central lonence of the subscribing witnesses, this 29th 2 5 day of August, 1902.

ALBERT EDWARD PASKELL. Witnesses:

W. P. CURTIss, D. W. SMITH. 

